Le Quartier Français tops again

Wednesday, 14 January, 2004
Le Quartier Francais
Franschhoek restaurant wins two Top 100 Restaurants Awards
Taking top line honours, Le Quartier Français of Franschhoek has won two highly coveted awards in Wine Magazine's Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa 2004. In a tour de force, the restaurant that has become a culinary destination in the winelands won first-place for the best chef in South Africa and the best service in South Africa - as well as a five-star rating for food, service and value in the prestigious national restaurant guide.

Crowning her eighth year in the kitchen at Le Quartier Français, Margot Janse was selected as top chef from among one hundred of South Africa's leading restaurants. Commenting on her ‘personal pick of the country's best’, food critic Jos Baker, editor of the annual guide, paid tribute to Margot as ‘a superb and spontaneous chef’ - and praised Le Quartier Français for ‘top service - alert, professional and leavened by friendliness.’

Margot Janse is a famously modest chef who has won many accolades at home and abroad over the years for her creative contribution to contemporary South African cuisine. The top chef in Top 100 Restaurants 2004 and winner of chef of the year in Eat Out 2003 takes it all in her stride. She comments, ‘I don't cook to be recognised. I cook to cook. It is great recognition for my whole team. We are now 20 women in the kitchen - a 99% female team plus one male trainee chef!’

Le Quartier Français is one of a handful of leading restaurants that have won a highly-prized place in all six editions of Wine Magazine's Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa. - and a place in the top ten restaurants in Eat Out every year since 1999. The laudatory entry in Wine's 2004 guide highlights the popular tasting menu - ‘an epicurean treat of superbly judged flavours, textures and portion, confirming Margot's international reputation.’ The guide highlights signature dishes that showcase local ingredients and the restaurant's winning cuisine - a double-baked beetroot and rocket souffle, Saldanha mussels in miso broth, sprinbok loin in balsamic broth with curried gnocchi, brie and porcini ravioli and orange-glazed ostrich fillet with sweetcorn and basil pancakes.

Susan Huxter, the dynamic owner of the restaurant and luxury auberge, is delighted with the latest accolade for Le Quartier Français. The well-known restaurateur and hotelier comments, ‘We're so proud of the awards. Winning the best chef and best service awards in the Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa is a great achievement. The recognition is a rich reward for a team effort. It comes on top of our winning a place as the only South African restaurant in the World's 50 Best Restaurants published in London.’

Contact: Le Quartier Français
Tel: +27 (0) 21 876-2151

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